Can opener



M. L. RUSSELL Oct. 9, 1951 CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 12, 1947 4/ 39 38 L45 l J INVENToR. @yV/offs L. Russe# Ii umu! lllul 1/5 Oct. 9, 1951 M. L. RUSSELL CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1947 INVENTOR.

A to Pff/cys Patented Oct. 9, 1951'` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEA Motie L. Russell, Huntington,r W. Va.

Application September 12, 1947, Serial No. 773,534

4 Claims.

This invention relates toimprovements in can openers, and more particularly to an improved cancopener of the type adapted to be mounted ,on a Wall or other supporting structure and op- -erated by a crank to cut the top from a can.

Such can openers conventionally include some :form of bracket adapted to be attached to the wall, a frame in the form of a flat, elongated member having provisions at one end for mounting it on the wall bracket, a guide pivotally se' cured vto the frame and carrying a cutting knife, a lever for operating the guide, a feed wheel ,journaled in the frame adjacent to the guide and cutting knife, and a crank secured to the feed wheel for rotating the same to move the rirn portion of a can past the cutting knife. While .can openers of this type are convenient and easy Vto use, they have a tendency to interfere with a ,K

door or other structure upon which they may be mounted or y. which may be positioned to open Aover the space normally occupied by the can opener, and are also somewhat difficult to hanvdle and Store in a minimum amount lof space because of the tendency of the freely swinging crank to move away from the frame part of the `can opener Iand. of the guide operating lever to also'occupy a position displaced from the frame. Itis among the objects of the present invention to :provide an improved can opener of the general character indicated above, but including umeans eifective to automatically position the various. parts in a compact and convenient arrangement when the can opener is not in use.

A more specific object resides in the provision ,of an improved can opener of the wall-mounted `type wherein the operating crank, the canfclamping lever and the can-opener frame are positioned in a condition of overlapping parfallelism when the can opener is not in use, which condition is consistent with maximum economy of storage Space and easy handling and storage of the can opener.

ther lobjects and advantages will. become apparet from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

' -Figurel is a longitudinal elevation of a can opener illustrative of the invention with the parts shown in retracted or inoperative position;

Figure 2 is an elevation similar `to Figure 1 showing the parts in operative or can-opening position; Figure 3 is a longitudinal elevation of a frag- ,mentary portion of the can opener frame;

Figure 4 vis a front-end elevation of the can and from which projects an arm I3 provided at its outer end with an upstanding pintle I4 of square or other suitable non-circular cross-section.

The can opener frame, generally indicated at I5, is an elongated, at bar having at one end a loop or eye I6 extending transversely of the corresponding end of the bar and provided `with a square or non-circular aperture which ts upon the pintle I4. Preferably the pintle and the aperture of the eye are tapered to provide a close flt when the eye of the frame is forced downwardly upon the pintle and the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the pintle and the interior of the eye permits positioning the frame at various angles relative to the arm I3 of the bracket.

The outer-end portion of the frame I5 is made wider than the end portion upon which the eye I6 is provided by the provision of a lateral extension I1 which projects upwardly when the can opener is in the operative position illustrated in Figure 1. This widened portion of the frame is provided adjacent the upper forward corner thereof with a large circular aperture I8, a smaller circular aperture I9 below the aperture I8 which aperture I9 also extends through an annular boss 20`secured to that side of the frame illustrated in Figure 5, and a small circular kaperture 2| positioned near the rearward end of the extension I'I.

A disc 22 is journaled in the aperture I8, as shown in Figure 6, and is provided at one end with a substantially annular flange portion 23 which overlies and bears upon the surface of the frame surrounding the aperture at the side of the frame illustrated in Figure 5. One side of this flange 23 is extended, as indicated at 24, and carries an outwardly-extending pin 25, the purpose of which will presently appear. A clamping lever, generally indicated at 26. is

secured to the disc 22, preferably by having its shank 2l formed as an extension of the disc flange 23 in which case the lever 26 carries the pin 25. The outer end of lever 26 is provided with a handle 28 for convenience in operation.

Arcuate movement of the handle 26 rotates the disc 22 in the circular aperture I8 through an angular extent determined by oppositely-disposed stops in the form of pins 29 and 30 projecting from that side of the frame I upon which the lever 26 is located.

An axle 3l is journaled in aperture I9 which extends through the frame and through the frame boss and a crank, generally indicated at 32, is secured to the end of axle 3l projecting beyond the end of the boss 20. The crank 32v is provided on its outer end witha rotatable:`

handle 33 and is provided at its end secured to the axle 3l with a lateral extension 34, the outer edge of which is curvedl to provide an elongated, curved cam surface 35 which is preferably widened by the provision of a` flange 36A along the curved edge of extension 34 and projecting from the extension toward the adjacent surface of the frame I5.

Cam surface 35' is positioned relative to pin on lever 25 so that the pin contacts the cam surface when the lever is moved from the operative position shown in Figure Y2 to the inoperative position shown in Figure l, andi' automaticallyswings the crank-32 from the depending position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1 in which it is substantially parallel to the lever and the frame and overlaps the frame. Thus, when the lever 25 is thrown to its retracted or inoperative position, as illustrated in Figure l, the crank is simultaneously and automatically brought to a retracted position in which it lies along the frame I5 and the parts are then in a compact condition and will occupy a minimum of storage space. At the same time, the crank is positively held in its retracted position and does not swing freely to interfere with handling of the can opener or with any movable structure that may be positioned adjacent the location of the can opener supporting bracket I0.

A peripherally serrated feed wheel 3l is xed on the end of axle 3| opposite the end to which crank 32 is secured and a guide, generally` indicated at 33, is positioned directly above'the feed wheel 31. This guide 38 is in the form of an elongated arm of flat generallyr rectangular cross-section and preferably has its edges tapered inwardly from its forward toward its rearward end. The rearward end portion of thek guide is provided with an elongated aperture'39 through which extends a pin 40 which is secured in the frame aperture 2l. Pin 40 is provided with a head or washer 40 overlying the arm 38 around aperture 39 to hold the arml 38 in operative association with the frame I5. A pin' 4l extends from the disc 22 through an aperture in the forward end of arm 38. This pin is spaced from the center of the disc 22 so that it will move the forward end portion of arm 38 toward and away from feed wheel 31 when lever 26 is moved through its range of arcuate movement, between the stops 29 and 30, the forward andi rearward components of the movement of arm 38: being permitted by the elongation of aperture 39 through which the securingV pin` 4D extends` The guide arm 38 carries a blade 42 which may be either a xed or square type blade as illustrated, or arotatable disk-shaped blade of conventional arrangement, the lower end of which projects below the guide arm and is pointed and edged to puncture a can top and sever the top around the rim of the can. This blade may be conveniently attached to the guide arm by extending the pin 4I through the blade and extending a dowel 43 through the blade and the guide arm at a position spaced from the pin 4I. The guiderarrn is provided with a pair of outwardly-projecting lugs 44" and 45, at its lower edge, which are disposed one at each side of the blade G2 and spaced from the corresponding edges of the blade. These lugs constitute pressure fingers which engage the top of the can rim and hold the rim of the can in firm engageinent with the top of feeder wheel 3'1, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 4, when the guide is forced downwardly to its operative position, illustrated in Figure 2, by moving the lever 26 to vits operative position in which it extends forwardly of the can opener frame'.

A lug 45 extends outwardly fromy theV lower edge of` frame I5 immediately below feed wheel31 and serves to hold the can in position such that its side adjacent toV frame I5 is substantially parallel to the adjacentsideof the' frame.

In using thel improved can opener, with the parts in the inoperative position shown' in'Figure l, a can is placed against the side of the opener illustrated in Figure 1 in position such that its rim engages the top portion of the feeder wheel 3l. Lever 26 is then pulled forward by' handle 28 forcing the lower end of knife 42 into the-can. At the same time, the lugs 44 and 45 projecting from guide arm 33 press down upon the top-of the can rim and hold the can rim in operative engagement with the feed wheel. When the guide operating lever 2511s swung from its rearward" inoperative position, illustrated in Figure -1', toits forward operative position, illustrated in Figure 2, pin 25 is removed from cani 35Y freeing crank 32 which may then be rotated to impart rotation to feed wheel 3T which will, in turn, rotate the can, as designated at 4T in Figure 4, past the blade 42;

When thevcan top hasY been severed; lever 26 is returned from the position illustrated in Figure 2, to the position illustrated in Figure 1. As'this movement of the lever rotates disc 22, pin 25 cornes into contact with cam on crank 32 and automatically returns the crank from the depend'- ing position, illustrated in Figure 2, in which the crank was left upon removal of the can from the can opener, to the position illustrated in Figure 1 in which the crank lies along and is'substantially parallel to the frame I5'. The lever 25 in its retracted position also lies alongV the frame I5 and is near a condition of parallelism with therframe and the crank 32 in which position the various parts of the can opener are in a compact condition and occupy a minimum amount of space. With the parts in the inoperative position illustrated in'Figurel, the can opener may be lifted and swung about the pintle i4 to position it generally parallel to the wall upon which the bracket I0 is mounted, or may be removed from the bracket' and stored in a cabinet drawer or other suitable receptacle.

'i he invention may be embodied in other specific forinswithout departing 'from the spirit 'or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodirnents are, therefore, to be considered' in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of Vthe invention being indicatedvv byy the appended claims rather than by the` foregoing de- .5 SCriptiOn, and all changes which come Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. In a can opener of the type adapted to be mounted on a Wall bracket, the combination with a frame having a bracket-engaging formation at one end and apertures in the opposite end portion thereof, a disc journaled in one of said apertures, a lever extending from said disc operative to rotate the latter through a limited degree of angular movement, a guide arm pivotally secured at one end to said frame and pivotally connected to said disc eccentrically thereof for raising and lowering of said guide arm by said lever, a can-cutting blade on said guide arm, an axle journaled in said frame adjacent said blade, a feed. wheel on one end of said axle operative to advance a can rim past said blade, and a crank secured at one end to the opposite end of said axle for rotating said feed wheel; of a pin and a cam `carried one by said crank at said one end of the latter and the other by said lever at the disk connected end of said lever and engageable with each other upon movement of said lever in a guide arm raising direction to move said crank from a depending position to a raised position in which said crank is adjacent said frame and to lock said crank in raised position.

2. In a can opener of the type adapted to be mounted on a wall bracket, the combination with a frame having a bracket-engaging formation at one end and apertures in the opposite end portion thereof, a disc journaled in one of said apertures, a lever extending from said disc operative to rotate the latter through a limited degree of angular movement, a guide arm pivotally secured at one end to said frame and pivotallj1 connected to said disc eccentrically thereof, for raising and lowering of said guide arm upon movement of said lever, a can-cutting blade on said guide arm, an axle journaled in said frame adjacent said blade, a feed Wheel on one end of said axle operative toy advance a can rim past said blade, and a crank secured at one end to the opposite end of said axle for rotating said feed wheel; of means for moving said crank to a position of substantial coincidence with said frame and locking same in such position, said means comprising a curved extension on said crank at said one end thereof constituting a cam facing the disc connected end of said lever, and an element projecting from said lever and engaging said cam when said lever is moved from its guide raised to its guide lowered position and moving said crank to said position of substantialcoincidence with said frame.

3. In a can opener having an elongated flat frame provided near one end with two, spacedapart circular apertures disposed one above the other, a disc journaled in one of said apertures, a lever extending from said disc at one side of said frame and disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of said disc in said frame for imparting rotational movements to said disc, an elongated guide arm slidably connected at one end to said frame and pivotally connected at its other end to said disc eccentrically of the axis of rotation of the latter whereby said other end of said guide arm is raised and lowered by rotational movements of said disc, a can cutting blade carried by said guide arm near the end thereof connected to said disc and disposed adjacent the side of said frame opposite said lever, a feed Wheel journaled in the lower of said apertures and disposed against the side of said frame adjacent said blade, and a crank secured to said feed wheel and extending perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the latter at the side of said frame adjacent said lever, means for automatically moving said crank from a depending position to a position of substantial coincidence with said frame and releasably locking said crank in such last mentioned position when said lever is moved from its blade lowered to its blade raised position comprising a curved cam formation on the edge of said crank adjacent the disk connected end of said lever, and a pin projecting outwardly from said lever at the disk connected end of the latter and spaced from the axis of rotation of said disc, said pin contacting said cam formation when said crank is in position depending from said frame and said lever is moved from its blade lowered toward its blade raised position and moving said cam formation to rotate said crank into a position of substantial coincidence with said frame as said lever is moved to its blade raised position.

4. In a can opener having a flat, elongated frame, an elongated, blade-carrying guide arm slidably supported at one end on said frame, a disc concentrically journaled on said frame and eccentrically connected to the opposite end of said guide arm, a lever connected at one end to said disc and extending at right angles to the axis of rotation of the latter at the side of said frame opposite said guide arm for imparting rotational movements to said disc to raise and lower said blade-carrying guide arm, a drive wheel journaled on said frame adjacent said disc, and a crank secured at one end to said drive wheel and projecting at right angles to the axis of rotation of the latter at the side of said frame at which said lever is disposed, means for automatically moving said crank from a depending position to a position substantially coincident with said frame comprising a curved cam formation provided on said crank at the drive wheel connected end of the latter and facing the disk connected end of said lever, and an outwardly projecting pin on said lever near the disk connected end of the latter and eccentric to the axis of rotation of said disc, said pin contacting said cam and moving said crank from a depending position to a position coinciding with said frame as said lever is moved from its guide arm lowered to its guide arm raised position.

MOfIIEi L. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,426,182 Gross Aug. 15, 1922 1,489,615 Steiner Apr. 8, 1924 1,641,961 Bruneau Sept. 13, 1927 2,287,442 McLean June 23, 1942 2,294,507 McLean Sept. 1, 1942 2,446,633 Chandler et al Aug. 10, 1948 2,462,416 Nelson Feb. 22, 1949 

